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Abstract Oxidative stress (OS) refers to the disruption in the balance between free radical generation and antioxidant defenses, leading to potential tissue damage. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can interact with biological components, triggering processes like protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation, or DNA damage, resulting in the generation of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Recently, VOCs provided new insight into cellular metabolism and can serve as potential biomarkers. The objective is to investigate the impact of OS on cell metabolism by analyzing the release or alterations of VOCs in the headspace of differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. An OS model in differentiated 3T3-L1 cell lines was constructed using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment. The effect of OS on cell metabolism was analyzed by detecting VOCs in the headspace of the cells using solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Our findings indicate that H2O2 concentrations exceeding 300 µM induce significant OS, leading to adipocyte apoptosis, as evidenced by various assays. Of the twenty VOCs identified, ten were upregulated in the cells. VOCs such as diphenyl ether, 1,3,5-trioxane, 5-methyl tridecane, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, and 2,4-di-tert-butyl phenol emerged as potential biomarkers for OS. This study demonstrates that elevated OS alters VOC profiles in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, providing insights into the effects of OS on adipose tissue and identifying potential OS biomarkers.

This literature review examines the advantages of regular physical activity for older individuals, who often experience declines in physical and cognitive capabilities that impact their health and quality of life. Regular exercise has been demonstrated to counteract many age-related negative effects by improving cardiovascular health, including enhanced heart function, increased circulation, and reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease while promoting longevity. In addition, resistance training is beneficial in preserving muscle mass and strength, which is crucial for maintaining independence and preventing falls. Furthermore, resistance training can improve bone density, preventing osteoporosis, and sarcopenia. Furthermore, physical activity supports brain health by promoting neurogenesis, preventing cerebral atrophy, and enhancing neuroplasticity, which can lead to improved cognition, memory, and executive function. Exercise can also alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety, significantly enhancing mental well-being. Virtual group-based exercise programs have been found to effectively reduce depressive symptoms and promote social engagement, combating loneliness and improving emotional well-being. The review emphasizes the extensive benefits of regular physical activity for older adults, including cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health improvements, cognitive function, and mental well-being. It recommends implementing tailored exercise programs and community-based initiatives and using technological tools to encourage and monitor physical activity among older individuals, which is vital for enhancing their quality of life.

Abstract Background Understanding the level of exposure to Lassa virus (LASV) in at-risk communities allows for the administration of effective preventive interventions to mitigate epidemics of Lassa fever. We assessed the seroprevalence of LASV antibodies in rural and semiurban communities of two cosmopolitan cities in Nigeria with poorly understood Lassa epidemiology. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in ten communities located in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abuja, and Ikorodu Local Government Area (LGA), Lagos, from February 2nd to July 5th, 2022. Serum samples collected from participants were analyzed for IgG and IgM antibodies using a ReLASV® Pan-Lassa NP IgG/IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. A questionnaire administered to participants collected self-reported sociodemographic and LASV exposure information. Seroprevalence of LASV IgG/IgM was estimated overall, and by study site. Univariate and multivariate log-binomial models estimated unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for site-specific risk factors for LASV seropositivity. Grouped Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) was used for variable selection for multivariate analysis. Results A total of 628 participants with serum samples were included in the study. Most participants were female (434, 69%), married (459, 73%), and had a median age of 38 years (interquartile range 28–50). The overall seroprevalence was 27% (171/628), with a prevalence of 33% (126/376) in Abuja and 18% (45/252) in Lagos. Based on site-specific grouped LASSO selection, enrollment in the dry season (vs. wet; aPR, 95% CI: 1.73, 1.33–2.24), reported inconsistent washing of fruits and vegetables (aPR, 95% CI: 1.45, 1.10–1.92), and a positive malaria rapid test (aPR, 95% CI: 1.48, 1.09-2.00) were independently associated with LASV seropositivity in Abuja, whereas, only a self-reported history of rhinorrhea (PR, 95% CI: 2.21, 1.31–3.72) was independently associated with Lassa seropositivity in Lagos. Conclusions The LASV seroprevalence was comparable to that in other areas in Nigeria. Our findings corroborate those from other studies on the importance of limiting human exposure to rodents and focusing on behavioral factors such as poor hygiene practices to reduce exposure to LASV.

Abstract The subsistence economies of prehistoric pastoralists of the Eurasian steppes have long been viewed through an oversimplified model of reliance on domesticated animals. This conceptualization has begun to shift dramatically through the introduction of scientific analyses, pivoting towards an evidence-based interpretation of economic flexibility and adaptive heterogeneity. Here we provide insights into the dietary practices of Iron Age pastoralists in Siberia through an archaeoparasitological analysis. Soil samples from the Tunnug 1 site in southern Siberia reveal the presence of helminth eggs of Taenia sp. (likely), Trichuris sp., and Dibothriocephalus sp. This indicates that the diet of the analysed prehistoric population might have included beef and did include freshwater fish, occasionally consumed in undercooked or raw form. Despite the primary reliance on pastoralism and possibly small-scale millet agriculture, these populations engaged in diverse dietary practices, including fish consumption. Additionally, the presence of Trichuris sp. eggs points to poor sanitary conditions, possible consumption of contaminated plant foods, and the contamination of drinking water with feces. By providing direct evidence of dietary habits, archaeoparasitology complements isotopic analyses and contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the subsistence strategies.

Abstract Background Social vulnerability is a multidimensional concept based on multivariate factors in domains of physical, social, economic, environmental, etc., and the subsets that constitute it. When addressed effectively, it paves the way for resolving and recorrecting certain facets that play a key role in determining the degree of susceptibility and potentiality of a population to address adverse situations. Aim The current study aims at synthesising research works and providing a comprehensive overview of social vulnerability assessment in the health and disease arena. Subject and methods It incorporates the concept of vulnerability, approaches, indices, indicators, and methodologies regarding social vulnerability in the health and disease arena from selected associated research articles accessed from digital database sources. Results There is an evident trend in associating new tools and techniques with the assessment of social vulnerability, along with conventional methods. Conclusion The results provide a theoretical background for subsequent research and an update on the recent trends in this topic of interest.

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance and need for accessible safe, effective, and versatile vaccine platforms. While approved SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been instrumental in saving lives and reducing healthcare and economic burdens, the induction of mucosal immunity remains an unmet need. Here, we engineered and evaluated a non-replicating adenovirus 5 (rAd5)-based vaccine expressing the SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit (rAd5-SARS2-S1). We assessed the immunogenicity, durability, and protective efficacy of intramuscular (IM) and intranasal (IN) administration of rAd5-SARS2-S1 in mice and Syrian hamsters. Two IM or IN doses of rAd5-SARS2-S1 elicited robust and sustained Th1-skewed S1-specific serum IgG, neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against several SARS-CoV-2 variants and systemic antigen-specific memory T cell responses in mice. Additionally, IN vaccination induced potent and long-lasting mucosal S1-specific IgG, IgA, and nAbs and pulmonary memory T cells. Importantly, while IM vaccine significantly ameliorated disease severity in hamsters by reducing viral burden, lung pathology, and, to some extent, weight loss, IN immunization significantly reduced viral replication and provided superior protection against disease and weight loss. Together, our study demonstrates that the rAd5-SARS2-S1 vaccine is immunogenic in both mice and hamsters when administered intramuscularly or intranasally, with IN administration providing better protection. These findings suggest that IN delivery of rAd5-SARS2-S1 could be a promising approach for inducing mucosal and systemic immunity, offering enhanced protection against SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants.IMPORTANCEThis publication presents an assessment of the immune response and effectiveness of a vaccine containing genetically modified non-replicating recombinant that expresses the S1 subunit protein of SARS-CoV-2. We conducted a comparative analysis of the immune response potency, durability, and protective effectiveness of this vaccine using intramuscular (IM) and intranasal (IN) inoculation in mice and Syrian hamsters. Our findings indicate that both vaccinations were effective in stimulating strong and long-lasting immune responses, both locally and across the body, when administered through either IM or IN methods. Crucially, our study demonstrated that the IN vaccination outperformed the IM vaccine by effectively and significantly suppressing the multiplication of the virus in the lungs and nasal turbinates. Additionally, the IN vaccine provided protection against disease-related weight loss and lung damage in the animals. This work showcases the potential of intranasal administration as a viable method to stimulate both mucosal and systemic immunity. This technique provides improved defense against SARS-CoV-2 and maybe additional variations.

Landslides are devastating and create an immense challenge for human life in mountainous terrain. The recent landslide occurred on August 06, 2020, at Pettimudi, Idukki District of Kerala, in the Western Ghats. The event was caused by prolonged rainfall. Consequently, there was a massive debris flow, the destruction of numerous settlements and vehicles, and the fatalities of around 70 people. In this scenario, this study focused on understanding (investigating) the nature, causes and impact of current landslides and their risk. A pre and post-assessment of the landslide was conducted. Available secondary datasets like the digital elevation model, local soil, slope, geology, rainfall, and landuse were utilized to comprehend the nature and stability of the landslide area. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) was carried out during the post-assessment in the field. The primary data was utilized to find out the buried human bodies and other materials and assess the depth of debris. Advanced technology like GPR helped in rescue missions to detect human bodies and buried houses in the suspected locations. The significant findings of this study expose the causes, i.e., triggered rainfall, slope failure, flash flood-induced landslides, and debris flow through the assessment of Hydro-Meteorological (Rainfall runoff); morpho-tectonic (Drainage Density, Length of Overland flow, Valley flower width to height etc.), topographic signature and debris flow spatial susceptibility. The quantification of loaded debris and sediment depositions are identified as 2–6 ft at various locations. The landslide risk assessment is based on the comprehensive susceptibility, hazard and vulnerability index. Also, this study reveals that the study area is highly susceptible to landslide and its risk. The result depicts that 33.5 % of the total geographic area has a very high to high-risk zone and 42.3 % of the area belongs to moderate risk zone. The integrated assessment of landslide is highly beneficial for administrative authorities and the scientific community in making the right decisions and taking immediate action.

Background: Distal pancreatectomy (DP) is a well-established minimally invasive procedure. However, feasibility and technical details when using Versius robotic surgical system are still unexplored. Method: This is a prospective stage 2a development IDEAL (Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment and Long-term monitoring) case series. All consecutive robotic DP (RDP), including both splenectomy (DPS) and spleen-preserving DP (SPDP), were analysed. Pre- intra- and post-operative details were prospectively recorded. Results: 6 DPS and 3 SPDP were performed between May 2022 and May 2024. Conversion to open was recorded in one case. The average operating time and robot docking time were 185 ​min (range: 118–300) and 9.3 ​min (range: 3–15), respectively. No reoperation or 90-days mortality were recorded. Ports placement, instruments used, and surgical strategy are described in detail. Conclusion: We present the first series on RDP performed by Versius robotic surgical system. The procedure is safe and feasible, and careful patient selection is required for the first cases.

Background and aim: Occult hepatitis B infection is a significant public health concern in Southeast Asia. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to provide detailed information on the pooled prevalence of OHB in Southeast Asia. Methods: A systematic search for articles describing the prevalence of OHB within Southeast Asian countries was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Our search returned Fifteen (15) eligible articles involving 1864 OHB cases representing Seven (7) Asian countries. A meta-analysis was performed on our eligible studies using the random effect model. A protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023422981). Results: The pooled prevalence of OHB in southeast Asia was relatively high [10.5% (95% CI, 6.8% – 16.0%; I2 = 98.37%; p < 0.001)]. Cambodia (51.2%, CI: 48.3 – 54.0%) had the highest estimate for OHB among the Southeast Asian countries. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of OHB with the year of study and types of study designs at P < 0.001. Between 2006 and 2010, studies had the highest pooled prevalence (25.0%, CI: 12.0 – 44.8%). There was a decrease in OHB pooled prevalence at the beginning of 2011. Conclusion: The findings of this review revealed a significant prevalence of OHB in Southeast Asia (10.5%) and a fall in the incidence of OHB over the last decade in Southeast Asia. The high prevalence of OHB in Southeast Asia, despite the drop in OHB incidence within the last decades, stirs the need for effective HBV prevention.

Abstract Background Migrants have complex health needs but face multiple barriers to accessing health care. In France, permanent healthcare access offices (PASSs), as specific primary health care facilities (SPHCs), provide care to people without health insurance coverage. Once these patients obtain health insurance, they are referred to common ambulatory general practice. The aim of this study was to explore migrants’ experiences and strategies for seeking common primary care after having been treated by an SPHC. Methods We conducted a qualitative study based on grounded theory between January and April 2022. We held semi-structured interviews with migrants who had consulted a PASS. Two researchers performed an inductive analysis. Results We interviewed 12 migrants aged 22 to 65 to confirm data saturation. The interviewees relied on “referents”: professional referents (to be properly treated for specific health problems), guides (to find their way through the healthcare system), or practical referents (to address practical issues such as translation, travel needs, or medical matters). Those who considered the PASS to be a referent expressed disappointment and incomprehension at the time of discharge. Referral procedures and the first encounter with common ambulatory general practice were decisive in whether the interviewees accessed and stayed in a coordinated primary care pathway. The perceived quality of care depended on a feeling of being considered and listened to. For interviewees who received first-time services from an ambulatory general practice, the way in which they were referred to and their first experience with an ambulatory GP could influence their adherence to care. Conclusions The conditions of transition from SPHCs to common ambulatory general practice can impact migrants’ adherence to a coordinated primary care pathway. Referral can improve these patients’ care pathways and ease the transition from a PASS to ambulatory care. Healthcare professionals at SPHCs should pay special attention to vulnerable migrants without previous experience in ambulatory general practice and who depend on referents in their care pathways. For these patients, adapted referral protocols with further individual support and empowerment should be considered.

Scaffolded-spheroids represent novel building blocks for bottom-up tissue assembly, allowing to produce constructs with high initial cell density. Previously, we demonstrated the successful differentiation of such building blocks, produced from immortalized human adipose-derived stem cells, towards different phenotypes, and the possibility of creating macro-sized tissue-like constructs in vitro. The culture of cells in vitro depends on the supply of various nutrients and biomolecules, such as growth factors, usually supplemented in the culture medium. Another means for growth factor delivery (in vitro and in vivo) is the release from the scaffold to alter the biological response of surrounding cells (e.g. by release of VEGF).1 As a proof of concept for this approach, we sought to biofunctionalize the surface of the microscaffolds with heparin as a ''universal linker'' that would allow binding a variety of growth factors/biomolecules. An aminolysis step in an organic solvent made it possible to generate a hydrophilic and charged surface. The backbone of the amine, as well as reaction conditions, led to an adjustable surface modification. The amount of heparin on the surface was increased with an ethylene glycol-based diamine backbone and varied between 8 and 40 ng per microscaffold. Choosing a suitable linker allows easy adjustment of the loading of VEGF and other heparin-binding proteins. Initial results indicated that up to 5 ng VEGF could be loaded per microscaffold, generating a steady VEGF release for 16 days. We report an easy-to-perform, scalable surface modification approach of polyester-based resin that leads to adjustable surface concentrations of heparin. The successful surface aminolysis opens the route to various modifications and broadens the spectrum of biomolecules which can be delivered.

Background: Integrative Oncology (IO) interventions may decrease physical, psychological, and social distress related to cancer and its treatments. Little is known about the frequency and predictors of IO referral for symptom management for cancer rehabilitation inpatients. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients with cancer who underwent inpatient rehabilitation at a specialized tertiary cancer center from 5/2016 to 3/2020. Patient demographics and IO consultation details, including patient-reported outcome measures of symptom burden using ESAS-FS and functional status using the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care “6 clicks,” were extracted. Descriptive summary statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Out of 1196 inpatient rehabilitation admissions, 100 (8.4%) were referred to IO. The Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care “6 clicks” basic mobility admission scores were significant at a 1-point difference between the intervention and control group (39.5 vs 40.8, P

Numerous studies have been conducted on sustainable transportation and its impact on global energy efficiency. However, the evolution and performance patterns of this field remain relatively unknown and limited. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to explore the global research trends to determine the state-of-the-art sustainable transport linked to energy efficiency over the past 21 years. The Web of Science (WoS) database was searched to explore the research related to sustainable transport in response to energy efficiency from 2002 to 2022, resulting in the identification of 2,884 articles. In this study, VOSviewer was used to analyse collaboration networks between authors, countries, institutions and co-occurrence analysis of keywords in three defined periods. The results reveal that the majority of studies on sustainable transport and energy efficiency were primarily conducted in the USA, with limited research conducted in Asian countries. The study found that the subject categories of “transport planning,”“transport policy,”“climate change,”“electric vehicles,” and “public transport” are the most prolific research contributors. During Phase III (2016–2022), most studies were centred around electric vehicles in the field of sustainable transportation, as opposed to Phase II (2009–2015). These findings enhance our understanding of the research landscape in this field and offer valuable insights for future studies. Future studies could examine how the latest technology enhances energy efficiency in the transportation sector and focus on the usage and benefits of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs).

Background: The five-factor model of personality, as quantified using instruments such as the Big Five Inventory, consists of broad personality domains including Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism (emotional instability), and Openness. Such instruments typically include >40 items. However, instruments with many items can be unwieldly and a cause of measurement error in clinical and cohort studies where multiple scales are sequenced. Conversely, established 5- and 10-item versions of the Big Five Inventory have poor reliability. Here, we developed and validated an abbreviated 18-item Big Five Inventory that balances efficiency, reliability and sensitivity. Method: We analysed three datasets (N = 59,797, N = 21,177, and N = 87,983) from individuals who participated in the online Great British Intelligence Test (GBIT) study, a collaborative citizen science project with BBC2 Horizon. We applied factor analyses (FA), predictive normative modelling, and one-sample t-tests to validate the 18-item version of the Big Five and to investigate its associations with psychiatric and neurological conditions. Results: The 18-item version of the Big Five Inventory had higher validity and retest reliability compared to the other previously shortened versions in the literature, with comparable demographic associations to the full Big Five Inventory. It exhibited strong (i.e. large effect size) associations with psychiatric conditions, and moderate (small-medium) associations with neurological conditions. Neuroticism (emotional instability) was substantially higher in all psychiatric conditions, whereas Conscientiousness, Openness and Extraversion showed differential associations across conditions. Conclusion: The newly validated 18-item version of the Big Five provides a convenient means of measuring personality traits that is suitable for deployment in a range of studies. It retains psychometric structure, retest reliability and clinical-group sensitivity, as compared to the full original scale.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is a rare entity. The diagnosis, treatment and follow-up pose a challenge in our environment. We describe the presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up of a patient with a localized, large exogastric GIST. Method: The case notes of a 51-year-old woman who presented with a one-year history of upper abdominal swelling with no associated symptom was reviewed. Result: On examination, an oval intraperitoneal mass at the epigastrium measuring 16 x 14cm which was freely mobile, smooth, firm, non-tender with dull percussion notes was found. She subsequently had resection of a large exogastric mass with a histologic diagnosis of GIST. Following tumour resection with a wide margin of gastric wall, she has done well so far for ten (10) years. Conclusion: Wide margin gastric resection may suffice in the treatment of a large localized gastric GIST when it is exogastric.

Brake fault diagnosis is a crucial aspect of enhancing driving safety, as various faults such as air in brake fluid, brake oil spill, reservoir leak, mechanical fade and distinct types of brake pad wear can compromise vehicle safety. This study presents a method for timely fault detection by analyzing vibration signals. Vibration signals for normal and faulty conditions were captured using a hydraulic brake test setup equipped with a piezoelectric transducer and data acquisition system. Feature extraction was performed using an auto-regressive moving average (ARMA) model. The performance of five different classifiers namely, random forest (RF), Naive Bayes (NB), instance-based k-nearest neighbours (IBk), logistic model trees (LMT) and J48 decision tree was evaluated. The LMT classifier achieved the highest accuracy at 95.00 % followed by IBk, RF, J48 and NB with accuracies of 92.00 %, 90.00 %, 90.00 % and 87.00 %. To further improve the diagnosis accuracy, a voting-based ensemble approach was employed by combining two, three, four and five classifiers with the application of five different voting strategies. The results obtained showcase that a combination of three classifiers LMT, IBk and NB utilizing the majority voting rule yielded an enhanced classification accuracy of 98.00 % highlighting the effectiveness of this ensemble method in brake fault diagnosis. A similar classification accuracy of 98.00 % was achieved by four (LMT-IBk-RF-J48) and five (IBk-RF-MLP-J48-NB) classifier ensembles; however, considering the computational complexity three classifier ensembles were selected. Whilst two classifier ensembles (IBk-J48) achieved a maximum classification accuracy of 96.00 %.

Forest carbon credit project developments throughout the world can contribute to nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change. With Malaysia’s large forest endowment, a study was conducted to evaluate the awareness and knowledge among forest owners, and to identify the main constraints faced when venturing into forest carbon credit projects. A total of 75 companies in both forest plantations and natural forests were involved in the study. The results clearly suggest that knowledge and awareness of forest carbon credit projects is relatively low among forest owners. Hence, forest carbon credit projects development in the country is relatively slow and only a few projects have had serious development to the auction phase. The slow uptake of carbon projects is plagued by the low carbon credit price, lack of clarity in the national carbon policy, limited expertise and capability for project development, and the lack of financing mechanisms for project development. Forest owners prefer biomass production and timber production due to the higher economic returns. Against this background, policymakers as well as federal-state initiatives need to address the gaps with the forest carbon credit project development ecosystem, in order to facilitate and realize the full carbon sequestration potential of the country.

This article sketches the application of Wendy B. Faris’s primary features of narrative techniques in magical realist fiction in the selected novels The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts (1990) by the British novelist Louis de Bernières and I Stared at the Night of the City (2008) by Kurdish novelist Bakhtiyar Ali, while keeping an eye on Chanady’s and Hegerfeldt’s perspectives where relevant. The focus is on the authors' use of Faris's features; namely the phenomenal world, unsettling doubts, merging-realms, irreducible elements and disruptions of time, space and identity, to depict their war-torn communities. These novelists have manipulated these characteristics from their diverse viewpoints. Despite their different cultural backgrounds and intellectual perspectives, both novelists attempt to convey a sense of reality by exploring the enigmatic nature of human behaviour and psychology, politics, and life in general. In this study, the researchers aim to elucidate the significance of these features in the selected novels to demonstrate the dilemma of war-stricken communities. Essentially, the researchers seek to unravel how these literary elements help in representing the complex and multifaceted nature of societies grappling with the impacts of conflict. The authors' manipulation of Faris's features becomes a lens through which they examine and articulate the intricate realities of war-stricken communities in their respective works.

Direct somatic embryogenesis represents a fundamental tool for obtaining genetically homogeneous clones; however, its commercial scaling faces critical challenges at various stages of the process. In this study, a protocol is standardized for the induction and germination of somatic embryos from leaf segments, rooting, and acclimatization of four Coffea arabica hybrids: Casiopea, Excelencia, H3, and Milenio. The results show that the Casiopea and Excelencia hybrids achieve the highest induction rates (71.64% and 74.43%) and embryo production (8.74 and 10) per explant in the M1 medium, while these values are significantly lower for H3 and Milenio. In addition, the germination and conversion of embryos into plantlets are more efficient in the woody plant medium (WPM), while rooting is optimized using indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentrations between 1 mg L−1 and 3 mg L−1, regardless of the hybrid. During the acclimatization phase, plantlets treated with mycorrhizae exhibit improved morphological, physiological, and nutritional indicators, achieving a superior quality according to the Dickson index. These findings significantly reduce production times by establishing precise standards for each genotype, thereby overcoming existing gaps in production protocols and providing a solid foundation for industrial growth.

A battery-operated biomedical wearable device gradually assists in clinical tasks to monitor patients’ health states regarding early diagnosis and detection. This paper presents the development of a self-powered portable electronic module by integrating an onboard energy-harvesting facility for electrocardiogram (ECG) signal processing and personalized health monitoring. The developed electronic module provides a customizable approach to power the device using a lithium-ion battery, a series of silicon photodiode arrays, and a solar panel. The new architecture and techniques offered by the developed method include an analog front-end unit, a signal processing unit, and a battery management unit for the acquiring and processing of real-time ECG signals. The dynamic multi-level wavelet packet decomposition framework has been used and applied to an ECG signal to extract the desired features by removing overlapped and repeated samples from an ECG signal. Further, a random forest with deep decision tree (RFDDT) architecture has been designed for offline ECG signal classification, and experimental results provide the highest accuracy of 99.72%. One assesses the custom-developed sensor by comparing its data with those of conventional biosensors. The onboard energy-harvesting and battery management circuits are designed with a BQ25505 microprocessor with the support of silicon photodiodes and solar cells which detect the ambient light variations and provide a maximum of 4.2 V supply to enable the continuous operation of an entire module. The measurements conducted on each unit of the proposed method demonstrate that the proposed signal-processing method significantly reduces the overlapping samples from the raw ECG data and the timing requirement criteria for personalized and wearable health monitoring. Also, it improves temporal requirements for ECG data processing while achieving excellent classification performance at a low computing cost.

Objective: This study aimed to assess hepatic fibrosis, using noninvasive tests, among patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Nigeria. Methods: The study was a retrospective cross-sectional, hospital-based, multicentered study. The data of adult Nigerians who were aged 18 years and above who had been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B infection and were not on treatment were extracted from three tertiary health institutions across Nigeria. Sociodemographic and relevant clinical data were obtained from the case notes of the patients. Fibrosis-4 and aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index scores were calculated to determine the presence and severity of liver fibrosis in the patients. The data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 25.0). A p -value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The data of a total of 234 patients were extracted for this study from across 3 tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. There were 132 (56.4%) males and 102 (43.6%) females in a ratio of 1.29:1 with a mean age of 37.92 ± 12.34 years. The fibrosis-4 score of the patients showed that 62.8% had “Normal/Mild Fibrosis,” 25.6% had “Moderate Fibrosis,” and 11.5% had “Severe Fibrosis/Cirrhosis.” The aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index score of the patients showed that 64.1% had “No Fibrosis,” 20.9% had “Mild Fibrosis,” 6.4% had “Moderate Fibrosis,” and 8.5% had “Severe Fibrosis/Cirrhosis.” The median fibrosis-4 score of the patients was 1.18 (0.77–1.74), while the median aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index score was 0.40 (0.26–0.69). Liver ultrasonography detected cirrhosis in 8.5% of the patients. All the patients were not yet on treatment for hepatitis B infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of hepatic fibrosis is high among patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Nigeria and a large number of these patients were not yet on therapy. Noninvasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis should be considered as a critical part of the work-up of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.

Background The booming palm oil industry is in line with the growing population worldwide and surge in demand. This leads to a massive generation of palm oil mill effluent (POME). POME is composed of sterilizer condensate (SC), separator sludge (SS), and hydro-cyclone wastewater (HCW). Comparatively, SS exhibits the highest organic content, resulting in various environmental impacts. However, past studies mainly focused on treating the final effluent. Therefore, this pioneering research investigated the optimization of pollutant removal in SS via different aspects of bioremediation, including experimental conditions, treatment efficiencies, mechanisms, and degradation pathways. Methods A two-level factorial design was employed to optimize the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity using Aspergillus niger. Bioremediation of SS was performed through submerged fermentation (SmF) under several independent variables, including temperature (20–40 °C), agitation speed (100–200 RPM), fermentation duration (72–240 h), and initial sample concentration (20–100%). The characteristics of the treated SS were then compared to that of raw sludge. Results Optimal COD and turbidity removal were achieved at 37 °C 100 RPM, 156 h, and 100% sludge. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant effect of selective individual and interacting variables (p

Background: Patient satisfaction is a key indicator of healthcare service quality and has implications for the growth and success of healthcare organizations. However, there is often a gap between patients’ expectations and perceptions of service quality, which can vary depending on various sociodemographic factors. This study aimed to assess the expectations, perceptions and service quality gap in a tertiary care hospital using SERVQUAL model. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 adult inpatients using a semi-structured questionnaire based on the five dimensions of the SERVQUAL model. The quality gap was calculated as the difference between perception and expectation scores. Results: The study found a significant negative quality gap across all five dimensions, with the largest gaps observed in reliability and responsiveness. The study also revealed that gender, age, and education influenced patients’ perception of service quality, while type of specialty, residence, monthly income, and occupation did not have a significant effect. Conclusion: The study highlighted the need for improving the service quality in the tertiary care hospital, especially in terms of reliability and responsiveness. The study also suggested that healthcare managers and providers should consider the diverse expectations and needs of patients based on their sociodemographic characteristics.

Abstract Background Autistic traits are often reported to be elevated in children diagnosed with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the distribution of subclinical autistic traits in children with ADHD has not yet been established; knowing this may have important implications for diagnostic and intervention processes. The present study proposes a preliminary model of the distribution of parent‐reported ADHD and subclinical autistic traits in two independent samples of Australian children with and without an ADHD diagnosis. Methods Factor mixture modelling was applied to Autism Quotient and Conners' Parent Rating Scale – Revised responses from parents of Australian children aged 6–15 years who participated in one of two independent studies. Results A 2‐factor, 2‐class factor mixture model with class varying factor variances and intercepts demonstrated the best fit to the data in both discovery and replication samples. The factors corresponded to the latent constructs of ‘autism’ and ‘ADHD’, respectively. Class 1 was characterised by low levels of both ADHD and autistic traits. Class 2 was characterised by high levels of ADHD traits and low‐to‐moderate levels of autistic traits. The classes were largely separated along diagnostic boundaries. The largest effect size for differences between classes on the Autism Quotient was on the Social Communication subscale. Conclusions Our findings support the conceptualisation of ADHD as a continuum, whilst confirming the utility of current categorical diagnostic criteria. Results suggest that subclinical autistic traits, particularly in the social communication domain, are unevenly distributed across children with clinically significant levels of ADHD traits. These traits might be profitably screened for in assessments of children with high ADHD symptoms and may also represent useful targets for intervention.

Background The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness of yoga as a form of Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) to standard VR for managing patients with symptoms such as dizziness, disequilibrium and gait instability. Methods 150 participants based on 18-point difference in the DHI score were randomly assigned to group 1- Yoga, group 2- VR and group 3- control group using block randomization. The intervention was provided for 12 weeks. The participants were assessed for Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) at baseline, 4th, 8th and 12th week. Results The mean DHI for group 1(41.12±7.13) group 2 (42.96±10.54) group 3 (50.84±10.78), p

Abstract The Peruvian Andes are the natural habitat of several wild blackberry species that are little known and exploited due to the lack of technological and scientific development to support their agricultural potential. In this context, a study was conducted to understand the physicochemical composition, bioactive compounds, antimicrobial activity, and in vitro multiplication of four wild blackberry (Rubus sp.) species from the northern Peruvian highlands. The results indicate that fruits of R. floribundus presented the highest content of total soluble solids (9.58 ± 1.83°Brix) and titratable acidity (1.88 ± 0.07% citric acid). The fruits of R. weberbaueri recorded the highest total phenolic content (415.06 ± 8.69 mg GAE/100 g Ff). The antioxidant capacity determined by the DPPH assay varied significantly among species, with the highest value found in fruits of R. andicola (50.27 ± 0.11 mg TE/100 g Ff). The fruit extracts of R. weberbaueri and R. andicola showed better antimicrobial activity, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most sensitive bacterium. In the in vitro multiplication phase, the results show that BAP (6-Benzylaminopurine) has a significant effect at a dose of 1.5 mg l−1 on shoot number, leaf number, and shoot length. The results may help in the management of genetic resources.

The limited market share and growth of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in domestic furniture and wood product industry in Malaysia remains a long-standing challenge. Therefore, a study to examine the market factors that contribute to the failure to thrive among Bumiputera entrepreneurs, registered with the Malaysian Timber Industry Board, was conducted. The results revealed that most of the respondents were micro- and small-sized enterprises, with sales focused on the domestic and contract markets. They were mostly producing sofa and kitchen cabinets, made to order, and sold in domestic markets within the vicinity. The respondents also indicated that the major challenges that impeded their ability to penetrate and capture market share include the limited production volume, lack of product diversity, limited government contract, and inter-ethnicity business collaboration. The Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation tests found that the significant challenges were only the limited production volume due to small company size, lack of product diversity, and the limited inter-ethnicity business collaboration among Bumiputera entrepreneurs. Therefore, policymakers should take heed that despite the many years of targeted and affirmative assistance to expand the domestic market share of Bumiputera entrepreneurs, the results remain poor, and inevitably, a new approach to Bumiputera entrepreneurs’ development must be adopted.

High-temperature cooking processes like frying, baking, smoking, or drying can induce chemical transformations in conventional food ingredients, causing deteriorative modifications. These reactions, including hydrolytic, oxidative, and thermal changes, are common and can alter the food’s chemical composition. This study transformed a combination of sucrose and histidine (Su-Hi) through charring or pyrolysis. The GC-MS profiling study showed that when sucrose and histidine (Su-Hi) were exposed to high temperatures (≈240 °C), they produced carbonyl and aromatic compounds including beta-D-Glucopyranose, 1,6-anhydro (10.11%), 2-Butanone, 4,4-dimethoxy- (12.89%), 2(1H)-Quinolinone-hydrazine (5.73%), Benzenamine (6.35%), 2,5-Pyrrolidinedione, 1-[(3,4-dimethylbenzoyl)oxy]- (5.82%), Benzene-(1-ethyl-1-propenyl) (5.62%), and 4-Pyridinamine-2,6-dimethyl (5.52%). The compounds mentioned can permeate the cell membrane and contribute to the development of cell death by necrosis in human immune cells. The evidence suggests that a specific set of pyrolytic compounds may pose a risk to immune cells. This investigation reveals the complex relationship between high-temperature cooking-induced transformations, compound permeation inside the cells, and downstream cellular responses, emphasizing the significance of considering the broader health implications of food chemical contaminants.

Wireless body area networks ( $WBAN$ ) are essential components of intelligent healthcare monitoring techniques. Especially, when the number and datatype in $WBAN$ increases. In $WBAN$ , secure multidimensional data aggregation received a lot of attention. However, the related schemes consume more computational and communication overhead to encrypt/decrypt the multidimensional health reports. In this paper, a blockchain-assisted scalable and secure multidimensional data aggregation scheme is introduced for fog-based $WBAN$ . The multidimensional health data are efficiently generated, encrypted, and decrypted by using the Paillier cryptosystem. Further, the batch verification method is used to achieve efficient authentication. The proposed system offers significant security attributes with less computation and communication overhead in comparison with competing systems. Further, it supports statistical analyses such as summation and variance to analyze the received health report.

In this present study explores the multifunctional potential of ZnO@CA/PCL nanocomposites, delving into their efficacy in wastewater treatment and exhibiting promising in vitro anticancer activity. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by Scanning SEM, TGA, XRD, UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results of an invitro anticancer activity showed the significant cytotoxic effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the ACHN renal cancer cell line. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO@CA/PCL nanocomposites were evaluated by monitoring the degradation of congo red (CR) and rhodamine-B (RhB) dyes under UV illumination. The degradation efficacy of the rhodamine-B (90%) was higher than that of the congo red dye (80%) after 60 min of irradiation under UV light.

The increasing adoption of intelligent Electric Vehicles $(EVs)$ in the realm of transportation has raised significant concerns pertaining to security aspects within the Vehicle-to-Grid $(V2G)$ communication system. This includes issues related to authentication, integrity, confidentiality, privacy, and the effective tracking of EVs. While numerous researchers have proposed solutions to address these security challenges, the existing schemes often exhibit a considerable demand for computational and communication resources. This renders them impractical for resource-limited $V2G$ setups operating within the Internet-of-Things $(IoT)$ framework. To address these limitations, this paper introduces an energy-efficient mutual and batch authentication scheme tailored specifically for $V2G$ communication systems within the IoT paradigm. Through a meticulous security and performance analysis, our proposed scheme demonstrates its proficiency in providing essential security features, including robust authentication and privacy safeguards, while significantly minimizing both computational and communication complexity. The outcomes of our analysis affirm that the proposed approach is well-suited for the unique constraints of IoT-based $V2G$ communication systems, offering a balanced and resource-efficient solution to enhance overall security and performance.

The ICASSP 2023 Acoustic Echo Cancellation Challenge is intended to stimulate research in acoustic echo cancellation (AEC), which is an important area of speech enhancement and is still a top issue in audio communication. This is the fourth AEC challenge and it is enhanced by adding a second track for personalized acoustic echo cancellation, reducing the algorithmic + buffering latency to 20 ms, as well as including a full-band version of AECMOS (Purin et al., 2020). We open source two large datasets to train AEC models under both single talk and double talk scenarios. These datasets consist of recordings from more than 10,000 real audio devices and human speakers in real environments, as well as a synthetic dataset. We open source an online subjective test framework and provide an objective metric for researchers to quickly test their results. The winners of this challenge were selected based on the average mean opinion score (MOS) achieved across all scenarios and the word accuracy (WAcc) rate.

Abstract Intrinsic metabolism shapes the immune environment associated with immune suppression and tolerance in settings such as organ transplantation and cancer. However, little is known about the metabolic activities in an immunosuppressive environment. In this study, we employed metagenomic, metabolomic, and immunological approaches to profile the early effects of the immunosuppressant drug tacrolimus, antibiotics, or both in gut lumen and circulation using a murine model. Tacrolimus induced rapid and profound alterations in metabolic activities within two days of treatment, prior to alterations in gut microbiota composition and structure. The metabolic profile and gut microbiome after seven days of treatment was distinct from that after two days of treatment, indicating continuous drug effects on both gut microbial ecosystem and host metabolism. The most affected taxonomic groups are Clostriales and Verrucomicrobiae (i.e., Akkermansia muciniphila), and the most affected metabolic pathways included a group of interconnected amino acids, bile acid conjugation, glucose homeostasis, and energy production. Highly correlated metabolic changes were observed between lumen and serum metabolism, supporting their significant interactions. Despite a small sample size, this study explored the largely uncharacterized microbial and metabolic events in an immunosuppressed environment and demonstrated that early changes in metabolic activities can have significant implications that may serve as antecedent biomarkers of immune activation or quiescence. To understand the intricate relationships among gut microbiome, metabolic activities, and immune cells in an immune suppressed environment is a prerequisite for developing strategies to monitor and optimize alloimmune responses that determine transplant outcomes.

Abstract A critical feature of the VSV vector platform is the ability to pseudotype the virus with different glycoproteins from other viruses, thus altering cellular tropism of the recombinant virus. The route of administration is critical in triggering local and systemic immune response and protection. Most of the vaccine platforms used at the forefront are administered by intramuscular injection. However, it is not known at what level ACE2 is expressed on the surface of skeletal muscle cells, which will have a significant impact on the efficiency of a VSV-SARS-CoV-2 spike vaccine to mount a protective immune response when administered intramuscularly. In this study, we investigate the immunogenicity and efficacy of a prime-boost immunization regimen administered intranasally (IN), intramuscularly (IM), or combinations of the two. We determined that the prime-boost combinations of IM followed by IN immunization (IM + IN) or IN followed by IN immunization (IN + IN) exhibited strong spike-specific IgG, IgA and T cell response in vaccinated K18 knock-in mice. Hamsters vaccinated with two doses of VSV expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike, both delivered by IN or IM + IN, showed strong protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern Alpha and Delta. This protection was also observed in aged hamsters. Our study underscores the highly crucial role immunization routes have with the VSV vector platform to elicit a strong and protective immune response.

The objective of this study was to analyze the response of antioxidant parameters in soybean plants inoculated with newly isolated Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bacillus subtilis strains as single and co-inoculants under drought stress. Bacterial strains were selected according to osmotic stress tolerance (in the presence of 36% PEG 6000) in appropriate liquid media. The effect of soybean inoculation was examined in a soil pot experiment in water deficit conditions (0 and 7 days withholding water). The influence of water stress and inoculation was evaluated in soybean leaves, roots, and nodules through guaiacol peroxidase (POX), ionically cell-wall-bound peroxidase (POD) activity, and ABTS˙+ radical cation scavenging capacity, as well as parameters of N-fixation efficiency. The results showed a significant influence of inoculation on constitutive and drought-induced antioxidant and N-fixation parameters. Inoculation increased the activity of POX (up to 116, 169, and 245%), POD (up to 116, 102, and 159%), and antioxidant capacity (up to 74, 76, and 81%) in soybean leaves, roots, and nodules under water deficit, respectively. Application of bacterial strains resulted in higher shoot, root, and nodule weight and nitrogen content both in non-stressed and drought stress conditions. Overall, co-inoculation had better effects on the investigated soybean parameters compared to single inoculation. Selection and application of bacterial strains with improved tolerance to drought stress is necessary in developing inoculants that would result in enhanced crop production under unfavorable environmental conditions.

Myostatin (MSTN), a member of the TGFβ superfamily, negatively affects skeletal muscle growth and controls muscle development at stages of pre-natal muscle growth. Marker-assisted selection with molecular markers of the MSTN gene can be used in animal husbandry for higher-quality and more economically profitable lambs. The study aims to identify multi-locus genotypes within the MSTN gene regions as molecular markers for fattening, feed efficiency, and carcass traits in Latvian sheep. This analysis was conducted on 76 intensively fattened male lambs representing six breeds in Latvia. Nine genotypes were identified based on four SNPs in the promoter and exon 1 regions, while six and four SNPs in introns 1 and 2 led to the formation of 14 and 10 genotypes, respectively. Six genotypes identified in the 3′UTR were significantly linked to traits such as birth weight, slaughter yield, muscle development, fat depth, average daily gain, dry matter intake, and feed efficiency. Genotypes of intron 1 were associated with slaughter yield, while genotypes of intron 2 were linked to fat depth, dry matter intake, and residual weight gain. The study concludes that MSTN gene SNPs can be used in selection to enhance sheep breeds in Latvia and improve economic outcomes for breeders.

In soybean production, numerous strategies are utilized to enhance seed quality and mitigate the effects of biotic and abiotic stressors. Zn-based nutrient priming has been shown to be effective for field crops, and biopriming is a strategy that is becoming increasingly important for sustainable agriculture. On the other hand, there is a lack of information about the effect of comprehensive nutrient priming and biopriming techniques on soybean seed quality and viability and seed health. This study was performed to assess the benefits of nutrient priming with Zn, biopriming with Bacillus megaterium and Bradyrhizobium japonicum (single and co-inoculation), and combination of nutrient priming and biopriming on the seed quality and viability, as well as seed infection caused by Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp. Three different laboratory tests were employed: germination test, accelerated aging test, and seed health test. The results revealed that all tested priming treatments have a beneficial effect on seed germination, initial plant growth, and reduction of seed infection in normal and aged seeds. Additionally, comprehensive priming with Zn, Bacillus megaterium, and Bradyrhizobium japonicum reduced the occurrence of Alternaria spp. (−84% and −75%) and Fusarium spp. (−91% and −88%) on soybean seeds in the germination and accelerated aging tests, respectively, as compared to the control, which proved to be the most effective treatment in both optimal and stressful conditions.

Tool condition monitoring (TCM) systems have evolved into an essential requirement for contemporary manufacturing sectors of Industry 4.0. These systems employ sensors and diverse monitoring techniques to swiftly identify and diagnose tool wear, defects, and malfunctions of computer numerical control (CNC) machines. Their pivotal role lies in augmenting tool lifespan, minimizing machine downtime, and elevating productivity, thereby contributing to industry growth. However, the efficacy of CNC machine TCM hinges upon multiple factors, encompassing system type, data precision, reliability, and adeptness in data analysis. Globally, extensive research is underway to enhance real-time TCM system efficiency. This review focuses on the significance and attributes of proficient real-time TCM systems of CNC turning centers. It underscores TCM’s paramount role in manufacturing and outlines the challenges linked to TCM data processing and analysis. Moreover, the review elucidates various TCM system variants, including cutting force, acoustic emission, vibration, and temperature monitoring systems. Furthermore, the integration of industrial Internet of things (IIoT) and machine learning (ML) into CNC machine TCM systems are also explored. This article concludes by underscoring the ongoing necessity for research and development in TCM technology to empower modern intelligent industries to operate at peak efficiency.

Mihretu Jegnie,1 Teferra Abula,2 Samuel Woldekidan,3 Dinkenesh Chalchisa,4 Zemen Asmare,5 Mekbeb Afework1 1Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Traditional and Modern Drug Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4National Reference Laboratory for Immunohematology, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 5Department of Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Mihretu Jegnie, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tel +251 984 079 816, Email mihretuj@gmail.comPurpose: This study evaluates the acute and sub-acute toxicity of 80% methanolic extracts of the leaves of Justicia schimperiana in Wistar albino rat models.Methods: Dried powdered leaves of Justicia schimperiana were macerated in 80% methanol. The experiment was conducted in accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guideline 423 for acute and 407 for sub-acute toxicity testing. A single dose of 5000 mg/kg extract was orally administered to three female rats for the acute toxicity study. The plant extract was administered orally for 28 days in daily dosages of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg for the sub-acute study. Animals in a control group were given distilled water. A total of 40 rats (5 rats/group/sex) were used for the sub-acute toxicity testing. Daily food intake and weekly body weight measurements were done. The rats were sacrificed at the end of the 28-day treatment period for hematological, biochemical, and histopathological tests. One-way analysis of variance and Kruskal–Wallis tests were employed for the analysis.Results: The single-dose oral administration of the plant resulted in no deaths or serious morbidity. The median lethal dose was > 5000 mg/kg. The 28-day oral treatment of the plant extract had no significant effect on general behavior, food intake, organ weight, biochemical parameters, or the majority of the hematological markers, with the exception of the decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit in the 1000 mg/kg extract-treated groups compared to the controls. Both sexes experienced significant weight increases at all dosage levels. With the exception of minor alterations in a few of the organs, no significant histological change was identified.Conclusion: It is concluded that the single-dose and repeated-dose 28-day oral administration of the methanolic leaf extract of Justicia schimperiana is relatively safe.Keywords: acute toxicity, sub-acute toxicity, Justicia schimperiana, rats, crude extract

Abstract Problematic pornography use (PPU) is a complex and growing area of research. However, knowledge of the PPU lived experience is limited. To address this gap, we conducted an online qualitative study with 67 individuals who self-identified as having problematic pornography use (76% male; M age = 24.70 years, SD = 8.54). Results indicated several dimensions that have not been fully explored in the literature. These included various mental and physical complaints following periods of heavy pornography use, sexual functioning deficits with real partners, and a subjectively altered state of sexual arousal while using pornography. Moreover, we expanded on current knowledge regarding the inner conflict associated with PPU and clarified the ways that users can progress to increasingly intensified patterns of pornography use, such as tolerance/escalation and pornographic binges. Our study highlights the complex and nuanced nature of PPU and provides suggestions for future research and clinical practice.

Understanding spatial and geometrical patterns of urbanization is crucial in tackling associated problems. As urbanization progresses through various stages of development, it reflects different forms, patterns, and interactions based on its physical and functional aspects. Spatial metrics is a well-acclaimed technique for quantifying urban morphological characteristics. The current study was conducted for Tiruchirappalli and six tier-urban centers located within a 40-kilometers radius to comprehend the comparative growth and spatial patterns. The urban centers are divided into eight zones based on direction for more precise quantification. The study employed Landsat 5 and 8 satellite images to classify land use/cover for the periods 1996, 2008, and 2020. FRAGSTAT is the software application used to analyze spatial metrics, at patch, class, and landscape levels. The study generated a significant amount of data about spatial and geometric patterns of growth. Area, edge, and aggregation metrics indicated that zones in Manachanallur, Manapparai, Musiri, Thiruverumbur, and Thuraiyur had protrusive urban growth during the study period. Transport networks have been the instrumental factor for such growth. Diversity metrics revealed Tiruchirappalli and Thiruverumbur have abundant patches of various classes in many of their zones since they retain patches like open, vegetation, and water bodies extensively. Shape metrics across all urban centers during the period 1996-2008 were more irregular in shape; it has become significantly smooth during 2008-2020 due to infill developments on the fringe areas. The period 1996-2008 recorded a huge transition of open areas into built-ups, attributing to infill development, especially inside the urban centers; similarly, during the period 2008-2020, edge expansion has been recorded widely across the urban centers. The current study is a significant contribution to urban research in understanding relative spatial and geometric patterns of urbanization.